Preview: Hyde United

mkdons.com previews tonight's fixture against Hyde United as the Dons look to return to winning ways and progress into the Second Round of the EmirateFA Cup at Ewen Fields.

Robbie Neilson's side enter this evening's tie without a win in their last five league games. The competition, however, provides a welcomed distraction from Sky Bet League One football and could inject the winning feeling back into the side.

In terms of their away form, the Dons have won two of their last four games on the road, keeping clean sheets in the wins over AFC Wimbledon and Bury respectively.

Kick-off is at 7:55pm.

Hyde United enter the cup tie looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games.

Although the Tigers currently sit fifth in The Evo-Stik North table, they are yet to lose a league game. They’ve also made a name for themselves for the number of goals they’ve scored this season, finding the back of the net 36 times in 17 games.

Darren Kelly’s side are appearing in the First Round proper for the first time in 23 years and for only the fourth time since the forming after the First World War. They’ve had to go through four qualifying stages to reach the First Round beating the likes of Scarborough, Boston Town and Warrington in the process.

The Donswill be looking to return to winning ways after they suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Bristol Rovers last weekend.

After an evenly-contested first-half at the Memorial Stadium, goals from Tom Nichols and Rory Gaffney in the second-half sealed the points for Rovers.

Robbie Neilson: “I’m really looking forward to it - I think it’ll be a really good game. They’ve sold out all of their tickets, it’s on a Friday night, it’s on the TV and it’ll be on a good surface, so it’s a good one to go into.

“It’s the FA Cup so it’s important that we go there with a strong team and put in a performance to be proud of.”

Darren Kelly: “There is a lot of excitement around the club and the ticket sales have been fantastic too. We are going to have a fantastic crowd behind us to help us in what’ll be a fantastic occasion for the club. I hope we can give a good account of ourselves and come Monday we are in the Second Round.

“The lads will work hard and go enjoy the game. That’ll be my key message, play the football - not the occasion. If I’m being honest, the belief I have in the players I think we can cause an upset.”

The Dons remain without striker Osman Sow, who is still suffering from an ankle injury he suffered in the 1-1 draw with Walsall.

Peter Pawlett is unlikely to be unavailable but the midfielder has taken part in two full training sessions this week.

Elsewhere, Neilson has no fresh injury concerns.

David Webb will referee tonight's fixture at the Ewen Fields.

Mr Webb, who has been involved in the professional game since 2007, last run-the-rule over the Dons in their 0-0 draw with Bury on Valentines Day 2017. That day he produced three yellow cards.

The Lancashire-born official has so far this season officiated 16 games and has issued 44 yellow cards. He is yet to brandish a red card.

The assistant referees are Matthew Parry and Michael Denton while the fourth official is Darren Drysdale.